Book Description

Reviews (4)

DANDELIONS by Eve Bunting
DANDELIONS is a very moving story. It does an excellent job in describing the struggles and bravery of a pioneer family. Although it doesn't detail why the family had to leave Illinois (their home), it does show readers that even back then parents may not have always agreed on family issues. Through the dialogue in the story it is apparent that the family wants their apprehensive, pregnanat mother to be happy, and they strive to make her so. The painted illustrations by Shed were very true-to-life and warm; they establish the setting and mood of each page. Further, the pictures helped define the characters by showing emotion through facial expressions and body language. Of course, those factors contributed in reinforcing the text. Despite the fact that the artwork has a warm fuzz to it (almost giving a surrealistic feel), attention to detail was definitely established, giving the story realism and life.

Dandelions
This beautifully illustrated(Greg Shed) picture book tells the story of a pioneer family settling in the Mid-West. Mama, Papa and their two daughters, Zoe and Rebecca have left the security of home in Illinois to settle on the Prairie. Papa and Zoe make a pact that they will help Mama feel better about living on the Prairie. After Zoe and her sister plant a patch of dandelions on the roof of their sod house, Mama agrees that their family is hardy and will bloom just as the dandelions are sure to do. This book, told from Zoe's viewpoint, is a touching recount of the feelings of the sodbusters. Would be very useful for primary teachers and media specialists in the mid-west states.

Dandelions, A Wonderful Book
My third grade class read Dandelions as a large group. We loved the pictures and the characters.It was very interesting learning about the way families settled the land. We decided that the book was showing us that families are like dandelions and they both grow with love and caring.

I cried and cried!!
This is my most favorite children's book in the whole world. If you miss out on this book, you're missing the best! The illustrations are incredible, and the story is one that touches the heart. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (17)

Response to Literature
The book I read is called The Secret School. It was really good. It was about a girl, Ida Bidson. She wanted to become a teacher, and needed to have her exit exam her eighth grade year. Things were looking good, but then her teacher, Miss Fletcher leaves. Mr. Jordan, the head of school board, decides to close the school instead of finding a new teacher. This breaks Ida's heart because next year may be too late for her to go to high school. Money depends on how well her family farm prospers. Her friend, Tom, mentions her being the teacher. This idea grows to a reality as she teaches secretly for quite a while. Mr. Jordan finds out and tries to close the school. Fortunately this doesn't work. So Ida, along with her students pass the exit exam. Now she can finally have a chance of going to high school.

I thought this was very brave of her to teach at such a young age. I would never have enough courage or confidence to do this. She acts as if it's no big deal. Even though I want to become a teacher someday I know I am far away from my goal. She had problems, but she didn't seem to handle them any different from an experienced teacher. "I'd [meaning Herbert, the troublemaker] sure like to see your make me [referring to the very nervous Ida on her first day.]"All in all she did very well. I hope if I do get to be a teacher myself, I'll be like her.

I most disliked the character of Mr. Jordan. I'm sure Avi meant to make readers dislike him. She did a very good job of it too. He was made out to be mean, bossy. In my opinion I think guys and girls are equal. It might be partly because I am a girl, either way that's how I view it. I think most of today's people agree with me. In the 1920's when this story takes place it was different. Girls were no comparison to the almighty man. I think all that's so dumb. Mr. Jordan, along with being the one who doesn't want the school to stay open, also thinks it's pointless to teach girls. I took it that he was implying that guys were better. "... I'm not so sure a girl needs a high school education," (Avi 11). I can just imagine him saying this emphasizing the word girl.

I thought it was sad that Ida didn't have time for herself. She had to do chores at her house along with teaching. If I were her I would hope my parents would at least give me less work. She didn't get paid either. That would be okay for a little while, but after a while it would seem pointless. Maybe this is selfish or makes me sound snotty, but I would never be that stressed out unless I was getting paid. I mean if I had no choice it'd be different, in this case she didn't have to though. "Think they'd hire you?" said Mrs. Bidson "Not for money." (Avi 25).

All in all this was a very good book. I would like to read books with more depth. In this book you could pretty much guess the ending from the beginning. None the less it was still good. I guess you never know though because some books are like that, but there's a twist at the very end. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a simple yet good book. Even though it was a little different from what I like, I'm glad I read it. No book have I ever read am I sorry I read. I think every book you read can only help you get ready for the next. Plus as long as your enjoying it who cares?

you will love it ! I did.
The Secret School takes place in Elk Valley,Colorado in 1925. I thought this book was interesting because it is about a class who finds out that their teacher is leaving. Ida is one of the students and she is worried that Tom and she will not get to take their final exams if Mrs.Fletcher, the teacher, has to leave to take care of her sick mother. So Ida and the rest of the class take a vote and they all elect to keep the school running,but not to tell anyone that Ida is the new teacher. The biggest problem was that Ida got tired of being teacher because she wanted to keep up with her studies. Soon there is to be a meeting to shut down the school because Mr.Jordan found out about the secret school.They all got their exams back except Herbert I won't give away the ending. So I hope you read this book.

Shh It's a Secret!!!! /By:AJY (Grade5)
A quiet day in 1925, Ida Bidson and her classmates heard the terrible news. Her teacher had to go take care of her. Mr Jordon was closing the school down for good!!!! Ida felt like tearing every strand of hair out of her head because the exams for high-school was soon what should she do. All of a sudden Tom her best friend had a excellent idea but the idea had to be kept a secret.
I thought this book had great use of vocabulary and I never wanted to put it down. I reccomend this book for 4-6 grade girls and boys. Avi did it AGAIN!!!!!!

Look at this fantastic book by:NMD Grade 5
It's a plain, regular day in a Colarado one-room school house in the year 1925. Ida Bidson, age 14, hopes to become a teacher. To do that she must finish 8th grade and complete high shcool. Cautiously the other children and Ida discover that Miss Fletcher, the teacher, has to go to Iowa to help her mom because of her mom's sickness. Later on in the book the school shuts down due to the absece of Miss Fletcher. Is this an opportunity for Ida?

Take a Look at This Phenominal Book!! By: LMD Grade 5
It's 1925 in a one room school house in Colorado. Ida Bidson and her friend Tom are both stuck smack in the middle of copious amounts of dilemmas. Their teacher, Miss. Fletcher,has to leave town and take care of her ill mother. A replacement teacher cannot be found. The one room school house is shut down and Ida and Tom cannot take their final exams. This dilemma punctures their hopes to go to highschool. Tom exhorts Ida to take over and be the new teacher but to keep it a secret. Mr. Jordon, a monsterous teacher on the school board, is who they want to keep it a secret from. Ida thinks, "Should I be the teacher?" ... Read more

Amazon.com

Written by Lynne Cheney, author and wife of Vice President RichardCheney, to honor this "beautiful land made more beautiful still by ourcommitment to freedom," America: A Patriotic Primer is a proudcelebration of the individuals, milestones, and principles of this nation. Eachbusy spread features elaborately decorated letters of the alphabet, with one ortwo kids draped over its bars and loops, along with the highlighted concept orperson: "N is for Native Americans, who came here first," "T is forTolerance." Surrounding every letter is a veritable circus ofentertaining and useful related information, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser(Alexander, Who's Not (Do YouHear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move). "J is for Jefferson," forexample, is bordered with biographical details and quotations from ThomasJefferson, while mini images depict the third president's famous home(Monticello), some of his inventions, and a description of the Virginia Statutefor Religious Freedom. This compelling picture book will work best as asupplement for children who are already immersed in basic American history atschool. Teachers and parents will enjoy exploring with their kids every inch ofthe detailed, hand-drawn and illustrated U.S. map found in "U is for UnitedStates," explaining and elaborating on the historical lessons asappropriate. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (60)

THE ABC'S OF AMERICA
I buy many children's books for my young niece and nephew so I am always looking for ones that are educational as well as enjoyable.

AMERICA: A PATRIOTIC PRIMER is a colorful, well-written picture book that offers young readers an alphabetical introduction to historical highlights and prominent people in the American saga.

This is a unique book because it also allows parents to share with their kids fun facts and patriotic images which will open the door to family discussion about what makes America great. I can't wait to send this book to my young relatives.

The ABC's of the USA.....
Join Lynne Cheney and Robin Preiss Glasser as they take you on a alphabetical history lesson in America: A Patriotic Primer. Ms Cheney's short, letter by letter text is a bit dry and uninspired, as in "C is for the Constitution that binds us together", "O is for the Oath new Americans take", or "U is for United States", and her simple explanations tend to be more preachy than informatiive. It's Ms Glasser's incomparably, bold, busy, and exuberant artwork that really make this book a winner. Each page is filled with detailed illustrations, creative borders, famous quotations, anecdotes, clever fun facts, trivia, and more. Young and old alike will enjoy poring over and exploring each fascinating and inventive page, and you're sure to find something new and exciting each and every time you open the book. Perfect for children of all ages, parents and teachers should use America: A Patriotic Primer as an introduction to famous Americans, historical events, and important ideas, to whet the appetite and send kids out looking for more.

America: A Patriotic Primer
A beautifully illustrated book that that will delight children, parents and grandparents. The cover shows joyous children raising the flag in an Iwo Jima-like illustration. The book includes 5 pages of brief notes including Americans ranging from John Adams, Jane Addams, Roberto Clemente, Frederick Douglass, Chief Joseph, Helen Keller, Jonas Salk to Babe Didrickson Zaharias. The notes also include such details as the full text of the Oath of Allegiance. "D is for Declaration" is illustrated with sketches including John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. The border is John Adams words, "I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this declaration and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory." "T is for Tolerance" includes notes on Ramadan, Easter, Rosh Hashannah, Trung Thu (Vietnamese), Chinese New Year, Diwali (Hindu) and Mormon Pioneer Day plus others.
Some may recall that Lynne Cheney shot down a proposed set of history standards a few years back. This book offers an outline of a reasonable history standard.

this is just ridiculous
I would not recommend this book as a usual "Alphabet Book" because a lot of the words are pretty abstract for a child trying to learn the alphabet. The idea of an alphabet book is to connect a letter to something concrete the child can relate to, like their own name or their dog, not "Suffragettes!" The book is confusing as a history for children who are beginning to read because it is in alphabetical rather than chronological order. There is no narrative here, no "story" in the history.

Much of the history that this book attempts to whitewash over is not, in my opinion, really appropriate for serious discussion until children have begun to develop concepts of society outside of their family, neighborhood, and immediate town in the present day. I mean, my daughter is four years old. I can tell her the REAL story of the first Thanksgiving, but, it's kind of like, well, maybe she should first probably learn where North America IS, or that we live in a place called North America before we go into Metacom's Rebellion.

This is not to say that it is then okay for Cheney to pretend like this history isn't real, that it isn't really impacting our lives today. Her presentation of "the facts" is appalling. Over and over again, we hear about how great America is. No mention of course of that great Vietnam war, what a great idea that was. No "H is for Hiroshima" page. How about "I is for Imperialism." Or "Internment Camps." It is really quite sick, quite pathological, to use the imagery of Iwo Jima on the front cover to hide the atrocities of war and present it instead as FUN! It wasn't any fun for anybody at Iwo Jima, and I have no intention of lying to my children about the realities of war.

If you have a net worth of less than $10 million and you don't own stock in Halliburton, you are not doing your children any favors by aiding the capitalist class in this kind of blind indoctrination.

Look closely and critically at messages in this book!
A theme of this book is "we the people" but for the most part, present day Native Americans are missing from this book, and it is interesting to note which past Native leaders Cheney chose to include.

To start with, look at the parade of children shown on the title page. There's a kid shown in Native American clothing, but he isn't Native American himself. Other kids are white, African American, or Asian American.

Cheney chooses Squanto, Pocahontas and Sacajawea as historic figures to include. Some argue that white America celebrates only those Native people who helped them. To her credit, Cheney includes Sitting Bull and Chief Joseph, and Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

On the map of the US, the only references to Native Americans are historic landmarks that confine them to the historical past.

It seems a fundamental message here is that Americans can emulate attributes of Native Americans (bravery, courage, perseverence), but that today, Native Americans do not exist in Cheney's America. ... Read more

Book Description

Heroes, traitors, and great thinkers come to life in this activity book, and the concepts of freedom and democracy are celebrated in true accounts of the distinguished officers, wise delegates, rugged riflemen, and hardworking farm wives and children who created the new nation. This collection tells the story of the Revolution, from the hated Stamp Act and the Boston Tea Party to the British surrender at Yorktown and the creation of the United States Constitution. All American students are required to study the Revolution and the Constitution, and these 21 activities make it fun and memorable. Kids create a fringed hunting shirt and a tricorn hat and reenact the Battle of Cowpens. They will learn how to make their voices heard in "I Protest" and how Congress works in "There Ought to Be a Law." A final selection including the Declaration of Independence, a glossary, biographies, and pertinent Web sites makes this book a valuable resource for both students and teachers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fun activities for teaching the American Revolution to kids
"The American Revolution for Kids: A History with 21 Activities" sets up the two complementary halves of Janis Herbert's book right in the title. On the one hand we have a fairly detailed history of the American Revolution for young students, with much more of a sense of the ebb and flow of the war itself, in terms of the specific battles, than they will find in their history textbooks. On the other hand there are almost two dozen activities, which will give kids a chance to make this particular period of American history come alive.

The seven chapters start with George III becoming king of England in 1760 and end with the ratification of the Constitution: (1) Sons and Daughters of Liberty looks at the taxation issues that sparked revolution; (2) Who Were the Colonists provides a sense of what these early Americans were like and what they did; (3) "We Must All Hang Together" details the early part of the war through the Declaration of Independence and the battles of Long Island and Trenton; (4) An Eventful Year covers 1777 and the pivotal battle of Saratoga and the winter at Valley Forge; (5) "Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier" looks at who the soldiers were on both sides and what military life was like for them; (6) "The World Turned Upside Down" covers the end of the war with the surrender at Yorktown; and (7) A Good Peace, a New Nation starts with the Treat of Paris and ends with the Constitution being adopted.

Many of the activities are things colonials would have actually been doing back then, such as brewing a batch of root beer, making Liberty Tea Punch, creating a sampler or papyrotamia, baking Boston Brown Bread and Churned Butter, or playing various colonial children's games (Skin the Snake, Stool Ball, and I Sent a Letter to My Love). Several of the activities are specific to the Revolution, such as making a tricorn hat or fringed hunting shirt, creating a power horn, and trying to get ready in a minute. There is even an activity for reenacting the Battle of Cowpens (requires far less bodies than doing the Battle of Antietam in the Civil War volume of this series). However, there are also activities specific to more contemporary concerns, such as protesting current issues of public concern and making a law. I cannot imagine that any class or individual student would take advantage of all of these activities, but certainly teachers could find a couple that would spice up a class unit on the American Revolution. What you find here can also inspire teachers and students to come up with their own activities.

Still, you want to remember that this book is also informative, and teachers can find additional information to work into their classes as well as the activities. Sidebars throughout "The American Revolution for Kids" are devoted to key figures, topics, and issues from the period. The back of this volume includes a Glossary, A Guide to Officers on both sides, short Biographies of key political and military figures, the Declaration of Independence, a list of Web Sites to Explore, Revolutionary War Sites to Visit, a Bibliography, and Index. You can find additional books combining history and activities on the Civil War and World War II as well as significant art movements such as Monet and the Impressionists and Dali and the surrealists, all of which are worth at least a serious look by anyone teaching this material to younger students. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Surrounded by federal marshals, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first black student ever at the all-white William Frantz Public School in New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 14, 1960. Perhaps never had so much hatred been directed at so perfect a symbol of innocence--which makes it all the more remarkable that her memoir, simple in language and rich in history and sepia-toned photographs, is informed mainly by a sort of bewildered compassion. Throughout, readers will find quotes from newspapers of the time, family members, and teachers; sidebars illustrating how Ruby Bridges pops up in both John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley and a Norman Rockwell painting; and a fascinating update on Bridges's life and civil rights work. A personal, deeply moving historical documentary about a staggeringly courageous little girl at the center of events that already seem unbelievable. (Ages 6 and older) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A great book
This book was great; it was about Ruby Briggs experience being one of the first colored children to integrate the elementary schools in the south. It gives a wonderful perspective about how this young girl viewed racism. It also shows the reader that she did not completely understand why some many people were mean to her. It is an extreme eye opener to how strong racism was in the south, at one point it talks about grown women throwing and yelling at Ruby.

History comes alive through the eyes of a child
How does it feel to be the first to lead the way to new beginnings in history?

6-year-old Ruby Bridges was the first black child to enroll in a white elementary school in New Orleans, Louisiana. On November 14, 1960 Ruby walked into the school with her mother and four U.S. Marshals. The other families pulled their white children out of the school. So Ruby was left alone with her teacher, Mrs. Henry, inside their big classroom. This was the beginning of school integration.

How must this little first grader feel with so many adults yelling horrible things at her? One woman even threatened to poison her. People held a small coffin with a black doll inside to scare her. People threatened her neighborhood ' and her father lost his job. This is brave little Ruby's astounding story.

(p. 20) When we left school that first day, the crowd outside was even bigger and louder than it had been in the morning. I guess the police couldn't keep them behind the barricades. It seemed to take us a long time to get to the marshals' car.
Groups of high school boys, joining the protestors, paraded up and down the street and sang new verses to old hymns. Their favorite was 'Battle Hymn of the Republic,' in which they changed the chorus to 'Glory, glory, segregation, the South will rise again.' Many of the boys carried signs and said awful things, but most of all I remember seeing a black doll in a coffin, which frightened me more than anything else.
After the first day, I was glad to get home. That afternoon, I taught a friend the chant I had learned: 'Two, four, six, eight, we don't want to integrate.' My friend and I didn't know what the words meant, but we would jump rope to it every day after school.

Would the chaos ever end? Would the other children return to school?

Freedom
Freedom
Though my eyes
By Ruby Bridges

This book is about a true story of a pivotal event in history as Ruby Bridges saw it unfold around her. It is also about a black six year old girl.
An exciting/interesting part is when Ruby Bridges talks at the end of the book and says "I know that experience comes to us for a purpose, and if we follow the guidance of the sprit with us, we will proubly find that the purpose is a good one."
If you like reading about nonfiction books then this is the book for you.
When I read this book I always give it a thumbs up!

THE best book on Civil Rights for small children
I'd not read such a well-written book about the racism of the 60s for children, until now. Prefaced by Harry Belafonte, the book is remarkable on a number of levels. Off the bat, it is written particularly well for small children. The style is clear and concise without being patronizing. Large full pictures of the people and events of the time are placed on each and every page. While these photographs are effective, they are not violent or frightening in a visceral way. The pictures of racists yelling at Ruby and other black children are images that stand on their own. At the bottom of most pages are quotes from some of the major players of the time. A quote from Ruby's mother explains that she was unaware that Ruby would be the only black child attending her school. Another notes that standardized tests given to black children were biased in favor of white middle-class children with the hopes of failing the black. The story has a clear linear feel to it and children reading it will recognize the characters. Ruby herself is a remarkable child, her photographs becoming the most powerful in the book. It is made clear to the reader that Ruby was just like any other child you might meet. This thought is expressed more fully in the back, where a Ruby B. jump-rope rhyme has been written. The repeated phrase "Ruby B., Ruby B., You were a little girl just like me", drills the thought home. All in all, the book is wonderful. I recommend it to any parent, teacher, or librarian struggling to explain the civil rights movement to their kids.

Great book
This book was great; it was about Ruby Briggs experience being one of the first colored children to integrate the elementary schools in the south. It gives a wonderful perspective about how this young girl viewed racism. It also shows the reader that she did not completely understand why some many people were mean to her. It is an extreme eye opener to how strong racism was in the south, at one point it talks about grown women throwing and yelling at Ruby. ... Read more

Book Description

How did compliant colonials with strong ties to Europe get the notion to become an independent nation? Perhaps the seeds of liberty were planted in the 1735 historic courtroom battle for the freedom of the press. Or maybe the French and Indian War did it, when colonists were called "Americans" for the first time by the English, and the great English army proved itself not so formidable after all. But for sure when King George III started levying some heavy-handed taxes on the colonies, the break from the motherland was imminent. With such enthralling characters as George Washington, Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, Eliza Pinckney, and Alexander Hamilton throughout, From Colonies to Country is an amazing story of a nation-making transformation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The engaging story of America gaining its independence
"From Colonies to Country: 1735-1791" is the third volume in Joy Hakim's "A History of US."This book begins with the British kicking the French out of North America and ends with the American colonists winning independence from the British.After a first chapter that establishes the principle of Freedom of the Press that would come to play a key part in not just the American Revolution but throughout the entire history of the United States, the rest of the book falls into four main sections.The first (Chapters 2-6) covers the transition as the English essentially kicked the French out of North America as a result of the French & Indian War.The second (Chapters 7-14) traces the growing dissent in the American colonies with British rule that ended in the Boston Massacre and the Battles of Lexington and Concord.The third (Chapters 15-31) details the Revolutionary War, including the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence.The final section (Chapters 32-42) covers the means by which the thirteen colonies were turned into a country through the writing and adoption of the Constitution. The back of the book contains an extensive look at great documents including not only the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, but also the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom.Hakim also talks about how to consider great documents (and stay awake while doing so).The Atlas this time around focuses on the question of how the politics of cartography comes into mapmaking.

There is a lot of information here presented in a way that will speak to young readers raised on computers and hooked on the Internet.There are features on topics of interest scattered throughout the book and the margins are filled with various definitions, mini-biographies, and various facts.I liked the way she included actual signatures from various signers of the Declaration of Independence.These volumes are richly illustrated with historic prints, paintings, etchings, and maps (as well as contemporary maps that are more historically accurate).Besides paying as much attention to the style of presentation as she does to the information being provided, Hakim plays the role of teacher throughout the volume, anticipating student questions and demanding they take the perspectives of the various parties involved in this history.I can see what those home school their children are enamored of this series, because she saves parents from having to doing the engaging.These books do it for them. ... Read more

Book Description

Describes conditions for the civilians in both North and South during and immediately after the war. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great kids book with nice illustrations.
All of the "If you Lived at the Time of..." books are great for kids, and also a nice, quick read for adults! What I like about them is their layout, which is easy for readers to follow. Each page begins with a question, "Would you have seen a battle in the South?" for example. Nicely drawn illustrations accompany each answer. The book itself is small and lightweight enough to be handled easily by kids. Issues between the North and South are explained simply and, I believe, fairly.

Excellent Book for Young Readers
I highly recommend this book for young readers who are first learning about the Civil War, and for parents/adults who want to refresh their knowledge about the Civil War. It uses an easy-to-follow Question/Answer approach. It explains which states seceded, who fought for the northern and southern armies, how the war affected the daily lives of northerners and southerners, who were the famous people from the north, and who were the famous people from the south. I really like the approach of the entire "If You" Series by Scholastic for introducing history to young readers. I highly recommend it for classrooms, home schooling, or pleasure.

Shameful Bigotry
I generally have a high regard for Scholastic publications, but I am amazed that such narrow-minded bigotry and prejudice actually made it through to publication. I am so glad I previewed this book before sharing it with my children. I would no sooner read this to them than I would read them a book about "nice little Pilgrims and mean old Indians."

Current historians generally have a more enlightened interpretation of South's position in the Civil War, but Moore chooses to perpetuate the old stereotype of the evil slave owners versus the knights in shining armor of the north. Any cursory reading of the facts will tell you that this is wrong.

Though slavery was, no doubt, an issue in the war, it was not foremost, initially, and it was highlighted by the federal administration only when it became politically and strategically advantageous to highlight it. Any current reading of a Lincoln biography will tell you why he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, and why he waited so long to do it.

Comments such as, "[During the war] Southern women and children had to provide for themselves, something they were not used to doing," are littered throughout the pages of this book. Besides being grossly insulting, they are blatant misrepresentations of history, and of truth.

Most Southerners, in fact, did NOT own slaves. Many were very much against slavery. And yet on every page devoted to "explaining" the Southern perspective, the story of the South is told exclusively through their position as a slave-owning population. Southerners are portrayed as uneducated hillbillies. Even the pictures perpetuate this....illustrations of northern children look like modern day preppies; the white southern children are illustrated as ragged and dirty.

Moore does mention at the end that, "The South was treated like a hated enemy." Apparently, in some corners, they still are.

It was pretty neat.
IT is a really cool book. It is pretty interesting book. It explains some pretty cool stuff. ... Read more

Book Description

Us and Them illuminates the dark corners of our nation's past and traces our ongoing efforts to live up to the American ideals of equality and justice. Fourteen case studies--enhanced through the use of original documents, historical photos, newly commissioned paintings, and dramatic narrative--bring readers a first-hand account of the history and psychology of intolerance. We read about Mary Dyer, executed for her Quaker faith in Boston in 1660. We learn how the Mormons were expelled from Missouri in 1838. The attack on Chinese miners in Wyoming in 1885, the battle of Wounded Knee in 1890, the Ku Klux Klan activities in Mobile, Alabama in 1981, and the Crown Heights riot in 1991 are among the memorable episodes presented in clear, evocative language that brings to life history that is often forgotten or slighted. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Face of Prejudice
In an age of sanitized history and calls for revisionism that make people feel comfortable, there is a great need for more books like Jim Carnes' history of intolerance in America. With 128 pages of text and 16 concise chapters this book corrects much of the white washing that is taking place in much longer history texts, even at the college level. Religious liberty, Native American exile, freedom from slavery, racial extermination, and ethnic tensions are highlighted with graphic images and easily accessible narratives. The trials of diverse groups such as Mormons, Catholics, Chinese, Native Americans, Jewish immigrants, Mexican Americans, Japanese citizens, and just playing Americans are dramatically highlighted in an unforgettable montage of images and words that give the lie to the "melting pot" that is the United States.

Paintings, etchings, drawings, and photographs illustrate in no uncertain terms would hate has done to this country. More than that the pictures combined with the simple prose personalizes each inequity that is introduced. For example, "A Rose for Charlie" presents photographs of the community disrupted by hate, as well as that community's response to the hate. From photographs of hate speech scrawled on walls to portraits of citizens mourning the victim of a deadly hate crime present a view of America that could not be farther from the Norman Rockwell ideal we all wish this country would be. For those interested, a fictionalized account of this particular crime can be found in "The Drowning of Stephan Jones" by Bette Greene, which chronicles the death of the young man simply because of who he loved.

It should be an essential book for all classrooms.

An important book for educators
I used this book in both my 6th and 8th grade classrooms with great success. I embarked on a diversity project using it and the video (which I strongly recommend); it's an excellent starting point because its scope is so wide and yet it gives very detailed accounts of intolerance in America, starting from the beginning (you see, we have a rather long history of intolerance). Middle school students find it interesting and easy to understand, and it's perfect for the teacher because it covers many ethnic and racial groups in the U.S.. Use this book! It's very important.

This book effectively tells the story and links oppressions.
This terrific book effectively tells the story of oppression inthe United States and subtly connects the interrelatedness ofoppressions by putting the chapters side by side. The information and sidebars are magnificent in their detail and it is nice to have many sides of history that are so rarely shown. I learned more about history from this book than any history textbook I can remember. The stories of racial, religious, ethnic, and gay oppressions become human stories in this book--hopefully stories that we can learn from and choose not to repeat. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I didn't know Washington had it in him.
This was a fascinating look at a part of the Revolutionary War I didn't even know existed, and I'm sure my children didn't either. Spies and double spies and secret codes I associate more with James Bond than George Washington. Presented in a clear and interesting way that makes for a compelling book, full of the kind of details that make history fun. Nice writting that is understandable but doesn't talk down to children. Also, an appealing book physically, small, and made to look (under the paper cover) like George's own secret book of codes. The codes are reproduced in the book and there is a running message to decode. ... Read more

Book Description

The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they leave their little house on the prairie and travel in their covered wagon to Minnesota. Here they settle in a little house made of sod beside the banks of beautiful Plum Creek. Soon Pa builds a wonderful new little house with real glass windows and a hinged door. Laura and her sister Mary go to school, help with the chores, and fish in the creek. At night everyone listens to the merry music of Pa's fiddle. Misfortunes come in the form of a grasshopper plague and a terrible blizzard, but the pioneer family works hard together to overcome these troubles.

And so continues Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story of a pioneer girl and her family. The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America's frontier past and a heartwarming, unforgettable story.

Reviews (25)

The best book you'll ever read
I think this book is the best book this has a sweet little girl named Laura. She lives with her Ma, Pa, two sisters, one is named Marrie and one is Carrie,and thay have a bulldog named Jack!
There is a mean girl that always gets her way,she is so mean!
Guess What! Even a boy likes this book, so I would give this book five stars! Everyone would love this book! Even younger children will like the books in the library because they have thinner books. I've read American Girl books and Girl Hood Journey books are similar. The best book is On the Banks of Plum Creek, By:Laura Ingllas Wilder! It's a five star I guarntee!

Just Like the TV Show Little House on the Prairie
Remember that show "Little House on the Prairie"? Well, this is the book that it's all about. Here is the family: Pa, Ma, Mary 8, Laura 7, and Carrie 2. Baby Grace isn't born yet in this book. All their childhood adventures happen here: First day of school, mean Nellie Oleson, party with their friends, and their first real house with a doorknob! Through anything that ever happens, they know they have each other. That's why even though some things go terribly wrong, it is an adventure to them. Even so, by the end of this book, I wished they had never moved from their "Little House in the Big Woods". By the way, this is a true story. It covers approximately 2 years.
The next book in the series, By the Shores of Silver Lake, takes place about 4 years later when Laura is about 13. This large gap makes watching the show enjoyable because there is a long time period not covered in the books and these are things that could have happened during that unrecorded time. It is fun to read real history and this book is one of the best. Find out just what people do when home is a hole in a hill. What's it like to go to school in your bare feet when most people don't have shoes? What do you do when a fireball rolls into your house? What do you do for fun when TV's haven't been invented, the family owns one book, and oh yeah, there are no toys? Read this book and find out!

JINC'S CHILDREN'S BOOK CLUB
This book captured our attention, but some club members thought the book was just "okay." We liked many aspects of the book. We liked the good descriptions of nature and people such as the one about Nellie Olesen who we thought was asinine. We also liked how the characters really cherished things that are common to us like candy. It made us realize how lucky we are. Nature plays a huge role in this story, and it made us realize how powerful yet precious nature is. The characters in the story cared for nature unlike today when we pollute our environment. Families back then had a totally different life style than we have now. In our world today it seems there are two equal sides: inside and outside. To the Ingalls there were two completely unequal sides. Outside was much greater than inside. We had one big criticism of the book. The Ingalls family seemed too perfect compared to modern families. We thought it was a little fake how everyone was always so loving and never fought. Like many true stories, this one doesn't really have just one plot or story line. It just goes from one event to the next. All in all, though, it was a good story.

On the banks of plum creek
Dig in it

...
Imagine you are sitting on a hill on the grass, You stand up and walk around, You are surprised you see a door, You want to open the door but you think someone lives there; But you do look inside anyway. It is a little house. You go inside. It is called a dugout (a house under ground). This is where the Ingalls live. This is where most of the action happens in On the Banks of Plum Creek.
Nowthen, ON the Banks of plum creek is about a family. That's moves from Kansas to Minnesota. The Ingalls lives in a dugout. They harvest for a living. They have oxen and it take forever to plow the flied. Something also me happens so if you want to know what happened that get the book and read it.
Also, My evaluation of ON The banks Of Plum Creek is that it is a great book. There are many happy parts & sad parts too. A happy part is that the Ingalls have a good harvest. A sad part is that Laura almost drowns. You can read it you might not like it but I did.
Meanwhile, On the Banks of Plum Creek really don't connect to my life. I don't live in a dugout. I don't harvest for a living. I don't have oxen and a cow. Pretty much they are framers. My family is totally different. I live in a house. My dad delivers & my mom works at family dollar for a living. My family has 1 dog & 5 horses.

After all, I recommend you to read On the Banks of Plum Creek. Everyone that can read would like On the Banks of Plum Creek. Mostly 10 & up would like it the most. Both boy/men & girls/ladies would like On the Banks of Plum Creek. People that don't like to read would not like to read On the Banks of Plum Creek.

Can you see the door, did you go inside, are you in the house.

more excitement for Laura and Mary and their family
I think this one is one of the best little house books becasue of the excitement of the terrible blizzard. You will have to read this book to find out about all the trouble and adventure they have with the snow. I used to think snow was fun but now i know it can be a mighty bad thhing if there is too much. I also liked the part about the awful grasshopper plague. ... Read more

Book Description

A Civil War drama told in sixteen voices, this ‘is a heartbreaking and remarkably vivid portrait of a war that remains our nation’s bloodiest conflict.… Fleischman’s artistry is nothing short of astounding.’ —Publishers Weekly. ‘Fleischman has done what he does best—create a unique piece of fiction with echoes of his poetry throughout.’ —H. ‘Outstanding… unforgettable as historical fiction… an important book for every library.’ —SLJ.

Notable Children's Books of 1994 (ALA)
1994 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
1994 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
Best Books of 1993 (SLJ)
1993 Books for Youth Editors' Choices (BL)

1994 Teachers' Choices (IRA)
Notable 1994 Childrens' Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
1994 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
1994 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children
1993 Choices: The Year's Best Books (Publishers Weekly)
Children's Books of 1993 (Library of Congress)
1994 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
100 Books for Reading and Sharing 1994 (NY Public Library)

1994 Silver Medal for Literature (Commonwealth Club of California)
1994 Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award Winner (Westchester, NY Library System) ... Read more

Reviews (23)

The Review for Bull Run
Have you ever read a book about people and their perspectives of war? You would think that reading about history is boring, but the way that Paul Fleischmann describes the characters and writes the story line is great. Bull Run takes place at the battle of Bull Run in Virginia in the 1860s.
There are twelve main characters, all with different views on the war. For example, there is a boy, Toby Boyce, who just wants to kill a Yank. Others think that the war is crazy and does not want any part of it, like a young lady named Lily Malloy. Her brother is sent off to war, and all she does is sit in a spot on the grass and wait for him to return. She thinks that the whole idea of war is wrong. The book contains heartache, drama, and a lot of action.
I recommend this book to readers 12 and older because it would probably make more sense to them since they already know something about the battle. The book only has a few weaknesses, which are that it jumps from character to character, making it hard to remember the last thing they say. Since Fleischmann made the book "short and sweet", it is an easy read, but it could use a little more information about the war and less about what the people think. Everything else about the book is great. The author writes the story line very well, making it more interesting to the reader. I like the way the he writes the book in vignette-like format.
Overall, Bull Run is great and should be read by everyone who wants to be informed about the Battle of Bull Run. Reading this makes me feel more appreciative toward those who help us fight in times of trouble.

Bull Run
My book is Bull Run. It's a historical fiction book about the United States Civil War and the first battle of the bloodiest war in American history - "The Battle at Bull Run". The facts are real, but the characters in the story are not. The reason you should read this book is because you can learn more about the Civil War. Plus, the characters made you know what is felt like during the Civil War if you were either black or white.

I really, really liked this one!!
I really liked this book! I listened to it on Audio, so I don't know how it would be to read it, but I really like this! It's told from about... 5-10 people & on the Audio, they all had very good voices for the people. A MUST READ or a MUST HEAR! LOL

Bull Run a very facinating book.
Bull Run is a very good book. It takes place during the Civil War. At a battle at a river known as Bull Run. The book starts out in the South during a battle in South Carolina. Then the story goes into how the Confederacy (south) and the Union (north) got their troops for battle. Next it goes to the Confederacy and the Union marching to Bull Run. Then the book as the battle at Bull Run in which many men die and the river flows red with blood. Finally after the battle the Confederacy helps all those who are injured even the Union soldiers.
Some of my favorite characters were Gideon Adams a black who sneaks into the army to fight in a battle. Second, is Nathaniel Epp a photographer who becomes famous when he takes a picture of a soul leaving a man's body. Finally, is Toby Boyce a fifer who joined the confederate army band just to get a chance to kill a Yankee.
I like Bull Run because it well written. I like how the author Paul Fleischman put the story into the eyes of many different people. I also like war books. They interest me and I just can't put a book down that is a bout any type of war.
I'd recommend this book to someone who is fascinated by war stories or likes the Civil War. I would recommend this to someone like that because thats what the book is mostly based on. That is my review of the book Bull Run.

Bull Run
This book was about a African American man during the civil war. The man wants to get into the war. He has to sneeck into it because he is African but he has light skin so he coud pass as white. He gets cought a few times but then gets in. But what he finds out about war, he didn't expect.

I thought that this book was a very adventurous
book and I liked it alot because it cought my mind and right when i started reading it.

I would recommend this to anyone because I didnt think that I would like this book but i really did.

A reader that would like this book would be, a adventure-war reader. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On Ellie and Carrie's first day of second grade there's a brand new kidin the class. But when the teacher asks her students to welcome the ultrablond,blue-eyed, pink-lipped, loud-voiced, accent-sporting Lazlo S. Gasky toBrookhaven School, they all mock him instead: "Too different and strange to fitin they all feared." Lazlo grows unhappier by the minute, as he is ostracizedand taunted by his classmates. One day, however, when Ellie sees his sad-lookingmother walking forlornly toward her car ("Her son's having trouble, she mightpull him out, / this school may be wrong for him, she's full of doubt"), thingsbegin to look up for Lazlo. At that moment Ellie begins to wonder what it mustbe like to be a new kid, feeling so "different and strange," and she decides totake steps to get to know him, even at the risk of facing her friends' ridicule.("At school the next day the kids stopped her and said, / 'You were walking withLazlo, are you sick in the head?' / Ellie paused and replied, 'Now I know him,you see, / Lazlo isn't that different from you and from me.'"

NBC News' Today coanchor Katie Couric's rhyming book provides a healthyapproach to treating people who may be perceived as different, and works well asa springboard to discussion. Though the suddenness of Ellie's turnaround inattitude seems a bit unnatural and the rhymes are often forced ("They arrived athis door greeted by his French poodle / and Mrs. Gasky was there with a plate ofwarm strudel!"), the message of The Brand New Kid will certainly not belost on children. As Couric writes in her introduction, "It sometimes takescourage, but I hope this story will inspire all of us to reach out and makesomeone feel a little less scared and a little less lonely." Hear, hear.Caldecott Honor artist Marjorie Priceman's watercolor spreads are positivelydelightful, washing warmly over the pages in a free, buoyant style. (Ages 4 to8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Well Intentioned But Not Well Written
I was greatly disappointed in this book. The rhymes are forced and awkward - I had to read one page to my son several times and it still didn't have any flow. One review suggests that we shoud give Katie a break because her heart was in the right place. Well I disagree. A book should stand or fall on its own merits, not because of whose name is on the cover. If she is truly concerned about putting the message of tolerance out, why doesn't she become a patron to a young author with some real talent. I'm afraid this is just another example of a celebrity who thinks they can write. 2 stars for the illustrations.

A Winner!
Ellie McSnelly and Carrie O'Toole find lots of fun and surprises in second grade, the first of which is a brand new kid. He's different, very blond and blue-eyed with a funny accent and funnier name, Lazlo S Gasky. Instead of welcoming him to his new school and class, the kids in second grade tease and taunt Lazlo, isolating and ostracizing him. That is, until Ellie sees Lazlo's mother walking out of school one day, looking very worried and sad. At that moment she begins to understand what it's been like for Lazlo, to be "the strange, new kid" and decides to reach out to him. They play together and as she tells her friends the next day, Lazlo's not so different, we just didn't get to know him. He's really just like us..... Katie Couric has written a delightful, thoughtful story of tolerance that should open lots of discussions at home and in school about not belonging and feeling scared and lonely. Though her writing at times is awkward and her rhymes forced, the heartwarming and important message of this book far outweighs its flaws. Margorie Priceman's charming, expressive illustrations really capture the essence of the story and together, these two let youngsters know in a gentle, yet powerful way that our differences are what make us interesting and we all have a lot more in common than we might think at first glance. The trick is to get to know each other.

badly rhymed+badly written+famous author=published!
This is an example of what happens when good people write bad books. I have nothing against Katie Couric herself, and I realize that she had good intentions, but this book is so badly written, the rhymes are so forced, and the moral so obvious that it just overrides any intent she may have had. Books should be published based on the merit of the writing, not on the celebrity of the author. At best, it is a sophomoric effort (and I'm being kind). There are better books for kids about acceptance/tolerance out there. Save your money - it is a waste of paper.

Lack of Research
Couric does not mention one word about Hungarian music, Hungarian language, Hungarian geography, Hungarian cooking, or Hungarian history. However, Lazlo is clearly a Hungarian name.
As a Hunarian-American, I am very disappointed.
A Hungarian played a major role in inventing the computer. A Hungarian invented Holography. A Hungarian, Andy Groves, invented the pentium chip and founded Intel. The list goes on and on!
Hungarian is the most beautiful language in the world. Hungarian sausage is second to none.
Last but not least, Hungarian anti-semitism played a role in the death of a half million Hungarian Jews!

TRUE
A story about a boy, Lazlo, who is new in school. The kids in his class make fun of him. I think we can all relate to Lazlo in all different ways. People have made fun of you, and you have also made fun of other people. But in Lazlo's case, the students in his class mocked him constantly, and that can really hurt. But there is always one person at least who has a good heart, and in this case, it is Ellie. Ellie is the only one who gives Lazlo a chance, and finds out that he really is a great guy. This story teaches you that looks can be decieving. Don't judge someone by what they look like, they could be a really great person deep down. Kids can be really mean to a person, and people are afraid to say anything. Don't be. ... Read more

Book Description

Where did they all go?

Sixteen-year-old orphan William Wythers, is eager to try life in the New World. He and the other settlers face an arduous voyage and difficult months ahead on Roanoke Island, off the coast of Virginia. Yet there is a wonderful freedom in defining the rules for this new world in America. And when William falls in love with a young Native American woman, it seems that life is going to be happy after all.

But when John White arrives from England with fresh supplies for the settlement, not a single person remains. Who knows what happened? An unsolved mystery in American history comes brilliantly alive in Sonia Levitin's historical novel about the lost colony in Roanoke. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Well-Written, Action-Packed, and Interesting
Roanoke: A Novel of the Lost Colony is a terrific book. I loved it! Not only is it full of actual facts, such as the state of the colony after it is discovered to be abandoned, but it has actual historic figures: Sir Walter Raleigh, John White, and the first baby born in the new world, Virginia. It was interesting to read Sonia Levitin's view on what might have happened, too.

William is an ordinary English boy, apprenticed to a carpenter. But his master is not kind, and William runs away, branded as not only a runaway, but a thief as well (he is innocent as to the latter charge). He knows he must escape England before the police catch up with him, and when he arrives at an old friend's home, he discovers that a man named John White is going to establish a colony in the new world. This is William's chance, and he takes it.

Soon William finds himself on board a ship, headed for the new world. He must work to pay his passage, but he still enjoys it. He hears tales of the wild savages who hate the white men, and he meets many different people, with many different views of the voyage. He also discovers a stowaway, whom he befriends - Elizabeth.

When they reach the New World, the ship captain tricks them into landing at Roanoke, where indians are rumored to live, instead of peaceful Cheseapeake. William finds himself befriending the "savages" while establishing the new colony. While other colonist fear and hate the indians, William makes friends with them and even falls in love with one. But times are harsh, and not only are the colonists trying to prepare for winter, but they must protect themselves from other indians that hate the white men. William is caught up between the indians fear and hatred of the colonists and the colonists fear and hatred of the indians. Will he ever get the indians and white men to trust each other and get along?

The story is told with much description and it carefully depicts all the characters actions and feelings. It is a wonderful book with almost everything a reader could want. I reccomend it to anyone, especially people interested in history or the mystery of the disappearing Roanoke colony. Ages 9 and up, even grown ups would enjoy it immensely.

Where Have They Gone?!
"Roanoke- A Novel of the Lost Colony" is about a 16 year old orphan Named William Wythers who lost both his parents and has no one left but his younger sister, Elizabeth. William is considered a beggar, idler, and vagabond. When he finds out there is to be a voyage to the New World, William is eager to go. When they finally arrive, the settlers meet a friendly Indian tribe called Crotoan. William then meets a Crotoan woman named Telana and falls in love. Telana and William have to put up criticism from the other settlers and some of the Indians. The Governor of settlement, John White, returns to England to get more supplies.

When John White finally returns from England with the supplies, he finds that no one from their settlement remains. Nobody knew what happened and we still don't know. This American mystery has come alive in Sonia Levitin's novel of the lost colony of Roanoke.

A History Mystery
This book is based on a real happening in America's history, before Jamestown. A whole colony of people sailed from England to settle in the New World, including women and children and teen-agers, like William Wythers, the hero of the story. The fact is, they all vanished without a trace, except for a carving left on a tree. What happened to them? The author gives her own possible solution to this mystery, at the same time building a love story between William and Telana, the beautiful Native American girl. The colonists seem like real people with their prejudices, and longings. At the end the reader is haunted with more thoughts--did William and a few others survive? Were they able to create a new world without hate? Exciting and realistic, written in a style to capture the reader. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There's something to be said for a book that makes you wish you'd been part of a poor immigrant family living in New York's upper east side on the eve of World War I. Sydney Taylor's time-honored classic does just that. Life is rich for the five mischievous girls in the family. They find adventure in visiting the library, going to market with Mama, even dusting the front room. Young readers who have never shared a bedroom with four siblings, with no television in sight, will vicariously experience the simple, old-fashioned pleasures of talk, make-believe, and pilfered penny candy.The family's Jewish faith strengthens their ties to each other, while providing still more excitement and opportunity for mischief. Readers unfamiliar with Judaism will learn with the girls during each beautifully depicted holiday. This lively family, subject of four more "all-of-a- kind" books, is full of unique characters, all deftly illustrated by Helen John. Taylor based the stories on her own childhood family, and the true-life quality of her writing gives this classic its page-turning appeal. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Why are the sequels out of print?
I first read this book when I was eight years old, and I loved it so much I went to the library and checked out the sequels. As other readers mentioned, not only are these books interesting and fun to read (I still enjoy reading them at age 37) but Christians can get a glimpse of what the Jewish religion is really like on a day-by-day basis. Other than Hanukah and Passover, school kids aren't really taught much about the other Jewish holidays. I remember in fourth grade, a Jewish girl in my class brought in Hamentaschen pastries, and I normally wouldn't have tried something with prunes in it - but because I had read about Purim in "All of a Kind Family", I discovered a wonderful treat!

I should also say that the illustrations in the books are terrific! Esp in the later books, little Charlie is so cute.

Hopefully the publisher or whoever owns the copyright to Ms. Taylor's books will read the reviews here on Amazon and re-release the entire series, as it deserves to be done. (I seem to recall the paperbacks were available in a gift box in the 70's).

Required reading for Arab-Israeli peace talks!
I'd like to completely agree with and expand on Amanda Quick's review of this book. I return to it again and again (I'm more than twice her age, so that's a lot of re-readings), and expressions like "library lady" have become part of my family vocabulary. Like Amanda, I was raised Protestant; I never knew anyone Jewish until I went to college, and although I had some idea of festivals and food (my family was very international in its speech: for example, we used the word "tuchus" all the time, but I didn't know it was Yiddish until years later), I learned a LOT from all of Taylor's books. I have been teaching people from all over the world for years, and without exception, the Israelis and Jews from other countries are thrilled that I know about holidays and rituals, and all want to read the Taylor books when I tell them how important they were to me. The story of Succos alone is worth the entire series--magical. I truly believe this series could contribute to international understanding and peace. Meanwhile, read them all--they'll make you feel good about life

Loved in our Family
Everyday my 3 year old boy listens to the audio tape of All of a Kind Family 3-5 times. He calls it his "little girls tape" and sits in front of the stereo drinking in the stories. While he loves the Little House in the Prairies cd's this is his long time favourite. We have listened to this continually for a year now and he has every word memorised... I should know because he often starts to retell the stories (verbatim) and my wife and I have to listen to this little gentile kid retell jewish stories. Anyway, it is a fantastic slice of life and definately helps us to inculcate the kind of values that we want in our family.

An audiobook worth listening to!
As an elementary school teacher I rely on audiobooks a great deal as it helps struggling readers not only participate fully in the story, but works as a wonderful foray into the world of reading.I personally enjoyed this audiobook so much that I played it for my entire class. They loved it! The narration was excellent, calming even the rowdiest kids, and they were instantly drawn in. It was a great introduction to the Jewish culture and heritage, as well as an excellent discussion piece about immigrant America at the turn of the century! Consider this for your classroom, it has sparked curiosity, debate and learning for weeks!

one of the best ever
This book is funny and really fun to read because you really like the charachters and really care about what happens to them. The book is really exciting because the family has lots of adventures. ... Read more

Book Description

Margaret and her best friend Elizabeth both have brothers fighting the war against Hitler and, like everyone else they know, they are filled with feelings of patriotism. But the girls are also involved in their own personal war at home. Gordy Smith, the worst bully in sixth grade, teases and torments them, and Margaret is scared to death of him. But when Gordy and his pals Toad and Doug grow bolder than ever, Margaret and Elizabeth come up with a daring plan to get even. That's when the girls discover a shocking secret about Gordy that turns their lives upside-down and draws them into a startling confrontation with family, friends...and their own strongly held ideas. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Wonderful Book!
Nowadays there are so few books written about the era of war times, and fewer about the families of military personal and what they go through. Stepping On The Cracks is a wonderful book written about two friends Margaret and Elizabeth and the notorious class bully Gordy. Gordy continously bothers and bugs the two girls and the only thing that they want is for him to leave them alone. When all hope seems lost they discover something that Gordy his hiding. Gordy is doing everything to help his brother Stuart (who is a deserter from the army) keep hidden so he is not taken away. Of course Elizabeth and Margaret take full advantage of this situation, so they make a plan to blackmail Gordy. This plan goes well for a few days but Stuart gets desperatly sick and is in need of a doctor. The girls do not want to turn him in, so they do their best to take care of him from giving him soup to playing "hookie" at school. Margaret at first did not accept Stuart because her very own brother was fighting in the war and risking his life. She thought he was a plain sissy but as she gets to know him better she realizes that there is a gentler side to him. Eventually, she gets feel sympathetic for him but his health was getting worse by the minute. This book goes through all the different feelings that Elizabeth has with her brother and family to her own views about war. She struggles over the choices about turning him in or if she should take him to see the doctor. Mary Downing Hahn is a brilliant writer and this book goes through many twists and turns.

I really liked that the book was written by the view of a kid who had her own personal views conflicting from her family. It shows that we should have our own views which is very important nowadays. It also teaches us to look beyond someones outside to what might be the problem of their actions. Gordy had huge family problems that attributed to his snappy attitude and controlling personality. These days kids just take things for what they are and they either accept it or they don't. If they dont accept something they leave it alone without any followup on what might be the cause. Im glad that someone had the guts and talent to tackle these huge topics.

I think that anyone will enjoy this book, whether it be a light fun read or if you want to really soak all the information this book offers. It has a very wide range of readability, I think that anyone can read it from a 5 grader doing a book report or an adult.

You will be suprised by the twist ending as I was and I hope you enjoy this wonderful book!

Great WWII Literature
Stepping on the Cracks, is a marvelous story set in the small town of College Hill during World War II. The major characters in this novel are Margaret and her friend Elizabeth. (Margaret narrates the story.) They both have brothers fighting the war in Europe. They are having their own personal battle with Gordon (Gordy) Smith. He is the worst bully in sixth grade and Margaret is absolutely terrified of him. When his harassment of Margaret and Elizabeth gets increasingly worse, the daring Elizabeth concocts a plan to get even with Gordy. That's when they discover an appalling secret about Gordy. He is hiding a deserter from the army, his brother Stuart! They use this information to blackmail Gordy